Herb Lore - Page 11
Herb 203: Orpine
Common Name: Orpine (also known as Live-Forever, Sedum)
Latin Name: Sedum telephium (or related species)
Parts Used: Leaves, Root
Habitat: Found in Grizzlies East, Ambarino; grows on dry banks, rocks, and rocky woodlands.
Medicinal Uses:
Astringent/Cooling: Astringent and cooling. Taken internally to stop fluxes and diarrhea.
Wound Healing: Leaves are bruised and applied to fresh wounds, cuts, and burns to staunch blood and promote healing.
Kidney Stones: Root used to break up kidney stones.
Preparation:
Poultice: Leaves are bruised and applied externally.
Decoction: Root is boiled.
Herb 207: Pennyroyal
Common Name: Pennyroyal (also known as Pulegium, Squaw Mint)
Latin Name: Mentha pulegium
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowering Tops, Oil (use with extreme caution)
Habitat: Bluewater Marsh, Lemoyne. Found in wet ground, ditches, and near slow-moving water.
Medical Use:
Highly warming and carminative. Used to relieve colic and wind.
Powerful emmenagogue (provokes menstruation). Used to cleanse the womb.
Repels fleas and insects (applied or burned).
Note: Highly toxic in concentrated oil form.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Leaves steeped in water (mild use).
Poultice: Bruised leaves applied externally.
Herb 208: Peony
Common Name: Peony (also known as Paeonia)
Latin Name: Paeonia officinalis
Medicinal Parts: Root, Seeds, Flowers
Habitat: Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne. Cultivated in gardens, preferring rich, sunny spots.
Medical Use:
Specific remedy for convulsions, epilepsy, and nervous spasms (especially in children).
Used to provoke delayed menstruation and relieve pain in the back.
Clears jaundice and cleanses the blood.
Preparation Methods:
Powder: Root and seeds powdered and consumed.
Tincture: Root infused in spirits.
Herb 209: Pepper (Black and White)
Common Name: Pepper (Black and White) (also known as Piper)
Latin Name: Piper nigrum
Medicinal Parts: Berries (Dried)
Habitat: Imported spice, sold in Saint Denis. Tropical climbing plant.
Medical Use:
Highly warming and stimulant. Used to warm a cold stomach and aid poor digestion.
Used to treat fevers (diaphoretic) and relieve colic.
Used externally in poultices to draw out poisons and relieve pain.
Preparation Methods:
Powder: Ground and added to food.
Decoction: Boiled in water or wine.
Herb 210: Periwinkle
Common Name: Periwinkle (also known as Vinca, Ground Ivy)
Latin Name: Vinca minor
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowers
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in cool, shaded woods and thickets.
Medical Use:
Powerful astringent. Used to stop excessive bleeding, particularly nosebleeds and heavy menstruation.
Used to treat diarrhea and bloody flux.
Used to combat nervous headache and dizziness.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Leaves boiled in water or wine.
Chewed: Fresh leaves chewed (astringent effect).
Herb 211: Petasitis
Common Name: Petasitis (also known as Butterbur)
Latin Name: Petasites hybridus
Medicinal Parts: Root, Leaves
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Found in wet ground, stream banks, and damp meadows.
Medical Use:
Highly effective diaphoretic (induces sweating) to break fevers and guard against plague and pestilence.
Used for coughs and short breath.
Used externally to treat wounds and ulcers.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Root boiled in water or wine.
Poultice: Bruised leaves applied externally.
Herb 212: Pimpernel
Common Name: Pimpernel (also known as Anagallis, Poor Man's Weatherglass)
Latin Name: Anagallis arvensis
Medicinal Parts: Whole Herb
Habitat: Almost all regions, found in cultivated fields and waste ground.
Medical Use:
Highly regarded as an antidote to poison and the bites of venomous creatures.
Used to treat melancholy and calm the nerves.
Clears obstructions of the liver and treats jaundice.
Preparation Methods:
Juice: Pressed from the fresh herb.
Infusion: Herb steeped in water or wine.
Herb 213: Pine Tree
Common Name: Pine Tree (also known as Pinus)
Latin Name: Pinus spp. (Loblolly, Ponderosa, etc.)
Medicinal Parts: Gum/Resin (Turpentine), Bark, Needles
Habitat: Grizzlies East, Ambarino. Widespread in rocky, mountainous, and forested regions.
Medical Use:
Gum/Resin is a strong antiseptic and expectorant. Used for coughs, colds, and lung consumption.
Turpentine oil used externally to relieve joint pain and warm the body.
Inner bark decoction used for scurvy (Vitamin C).
Preparation Methods:
Tea/Infusion: Needles steeped in hot water.
Syrup: Resin mixed with honey/sugar.
Oil: Turpentine oil rubbed externally.
Herb 214: Plantain (Broad-leaved)
Common Name: Plantain (Broad-leaved) (also known as Waybread, Plantago)
Latin Name: Plantago major
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Root, Seeds
Habitat: Universal across all regions, especially in highly trampled areas, roadsides, and lawns.
Medical Use:
Excellent vulnerary (wound healing) and antivenom. Applied immediately to snake bites, stings, and fresh wounds.
Used internally to staunch bleeding and stop fluxes (diarrhea).
Used in washes for sore eyes.
Preparation Methods:
Poultice: Leaves chewed or crushed and applied immediately.
Juice: Pressed and mixed with water.
Herb 215: Plantain (Narrow-leaved)
Common Name: Plantain (Narrow-leaved) (also known as Ribwort, Plantago lanceolata)
Latin Name: Plantago lanceolata
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Root, Seeds
Habitat: Almost all regions, found in fields and disturbed ground.
Medical Use:
Highly effective for lung complaints, coughs, and consumption.
Strong astringent used to stop bleeding and fluxes (diarrhea).
Used for healing internal and external ulcers.
Seeds (psyllium) are a mild laxative.
Preparation Methods:
Decoction/Infusion: Leaves boiled or steeped.
Poultice: Leaves bruised and applied to stings.
Herb 216: Plums
Common Name: Plums (also known as Prunus domestica)
Latin Name: Prunus domestica
Medicinal Parts: Fruit, Gum
Habitat: Scarlett Meadows, Lemoyne. Cultivated in orchards and gardens.
Medical Use:
Fruit is a gentle laxative and cooling for the stomach.
Used to relieve thirst in fevers.
Gum from the tree used to soothe coughs and throat soreness.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Fruit consumed raw or dried (prunes).
Syrup/Conserve: Fruit preserved with sugar.
Herb 217: Poplar (Black)
Common Name: Poplar (Black) (also known as Populus nigra)
Latin Name: Populus nigra
Medicinal Parts: Buds, Bark
Habitat: Big Valley, West Elizabeth. Found on riverbanks, moist ground, and open water margins.
Medical Use:
Buds used to make a warming, balsamic ointment for wounds, sprains, and joint pain (rheumatism).
Bark is a diuretic and used for cold fevers.
Preparation Methods:
Oil/Ointment: Buds infused in oil or lard.
Decoction: Bark boiled in water.
Herb 218: Poppy (Red)
Common Name: Poppy (Red) (also known as Corn Poppy, Papaver rhoeas)
Latin Name: Papaver rhoeas
Medicinal Parts: Petals, Seeds
Habitat: The Heartlands, New Hanover. Found in corn fields, roadsides, and disturbed cultivated land.
Medical Use:
Petals are a mild sedative and demulcent. Used to induce sleep and soothe coughs (syrup).
Used to cool hot inflammation.
Seeds are nutritive and gently soothing.
Preparation Methods:
Syrup: Petals preserved in sugar (cough remedy).
Infusion: Petals steeped in water.
Herb 219: Poppy (White/Opium)
Common Name: Poppy (White/Opium) (also known as Papaver somniferum)
Latin Name: Papaver somniferum
Medicinal Parts: Capsule (Latex/Opium), Seeds
Habitat: Imported or grown under strict control (e.g., Saint Denis). Requires warm, dry climate.
Medical Use:
Extremely potent analgesic and sedative. Used to relieve severe pain, anxiety, and stop fluxes (diarrhea).
Note: Highly addictive and poisonous in uncontrolled doses. Used primarily as Opium (Laudanum).
Seeds are non-narcotic and nutritive.
Preparation Methods:
Tincture: Latex dissolved in alcohol (Laudanum).
Poultice: Capsules/latex applied externally (cautiously).
Herb 220: Primrose
Common Name: Primrose (also known as Primula)
Latin Name: Primula vulgaris
Medicinal Parts: Flowers, Root
Habitat: Tall Trees, West Elizabeth. Found in cool, shaded woods, banks, and meadows.
Medical Use:
Flowers are a mild nervine that promotes sleep and relieves nervous headache.
Root is an expectorant and used for coughs and cold congestion.
Used to cleanse the blood and relieve rheumatic pain.
Preparation Methods:
Infusion/Tea: Flowers steeped.
Syrup/Conserve: Flowers preserved with sugar.
Herb 221: Privet
Common Name: Privet (also known as Ligustrum)
Latin Name: Ligustrum vulgare
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Flowers
Habitat: Almost all regions, often planted as hedging; found in thickets and scrub.
Medical Use:
Cooling and astringent. Used as a wash/gargle for sore throats, mouth ulcers, and ulcers on the legs.
Used to staunch bleeding and stop fluxes (diarrhea).
Preparation Methods:
Decoction: Leaves boiled (used as a wash/gargle).
Herb 222: Purslane
Common Name: Purslane (also known as Portulaca, Garden Purslane)
Latin Name: Portulaca oleracea
Medicinal Parts: Leaves, Juice
Habitat: Almost all regions, favors cultivated, rich soil, and waste ground.
Medical Use:
Highly cooling and diuretic. Used to cool the heat of fevers and cleanse the kidneys.
Excellent remedy for scurvy and dry coughs.
Applied externally to soothe burns, scalds, and hot inflammation.
Preparation Methods:
Eaten: Leaves eaten raw in salads.
Poultice: Bruised leaves applied externally.
Juice: Extracted and mixed with water.